Freelancing is a type of self-employment. Instead of being employed by a company, freelancers tend to work as self-employed, delivering their services on a contract or project basis.

Companies of all types and sizes can hire freelancers to complete a project or a task, but freelancers are responsible for paying their own taxes, health insurance, pension, and other personal contributions.

Since they work for themselves, freelancers must also cover their own holiday costs and sick pay. At the same time, self-employed professionals can set their own working hours and make working arrangements that fit their lifestyle – either working remotely or from their client's offices.

There are many different types of freelancers, but they tend to be knowledge workers who possess a high level of skills and knowledge in a certain area, such as designers, writers, programmers, translators, project managers, and so on. There is, however, another group of self-employed professionals that often get classed as ‘gig workers’ or ‘contractors.’ Self-employed handymen, cleaners, construction workers, and drivers would fall into this category. The most distinct difference between freelancers and gig workers is that the former tend to rely on the internet to deliver their work.


12 Tips For a Beginning Freelancer


It's not easy to start, but as soon as you see the first results, you get inspired and motivated!

1. Do not quit your job.

If you are a beginner in freelancing, take your time and do not quit your current job. You need a fixed income and your job may serve as a safety net for the period when you set straight your flow of freelance orders.

2. Make a portfolio

Demonstrate to your client what you are capable of. Make several projects or works: one for yourself, another - for your friends or imaginary customers, but make your works top level! So in a short period, you will have your portfolio. Review and update your portfolio permanently.

3. Sign up on freelance and portfolio websites.

These websites are an excellent source of orders. Pick some, sign up, tell about yourself, about your professional experience and place some of your works. Here are some of these websites:

4. Improve your communication skills.

Irrespective of the field you work in - 3D artist, animator, graphic designer, or web developer, you should be able to communicate easily, fluently, and efficiently. You will need to compose emails, communicate online, make business proposals and speak to customers.

If you feel the task is too complicated for you, give it a chance, do not refuse at once. Focus on positive aspects: promise to scrutinize everything in detail, learn how to do it, and most probably you'll be able to complete the task. This is how you demonstrate to the customer you are a self-starter and ready to deal with difficulties.

5. Assign the time for work and eliminate all distracting factors.

Freelance is free to work meaning you are the only boss of yourself. Therefore make yourself more productive by scheduling your work time. You don't have to work from eight to five, but appointed and scheduled time will make it easier to keep a good pace. Be responsible for your time management - make a plan, stick to it and target your aims. Concentrate fully on the result, eliminate all distractions like social networks, chatting with friends, sofa and TV, etc. These are the traps that crave your attention. You wouldn't even notice how an hour or even half of the day is gone.

6. Responsibility.

Freelance in the first place is taking responsibility for yourself and your work. There is no organized teamwork, no managers taking care of sales and client search, no accounting responsible for accounts and payments, and no chief executive ensuring the efficient work of the whole company.

A freelancer is a chief executive, an accountant, and a sales manager in one. The responsibility is solely yours. You need to find the clients, provide them a service, and make sure they pay the bills. It is not easy, but in return, you get freedom! Hundred-per-cent freedom, complete-time, and workplace management. No traffic, no trips to work and crowded transport!

7. Improve yourself and make more money.

Want to earn more, open the window of opportunities and improve your skills. Think about what else is relevant and needed by your customers.

For instance, if you created a character - offer animation or rigging of it, you created an interior design - offer visualization of it in the game engine, you made a website - offer its promotion, etc.

8. Make your agreements in writing.

Agree on all the details (deadlines, payments, requests) by email or SMS (no phone conversations) in case any misunderstandings arise and you'll need some proof.

9. You are surrounded by customers? Offer your services!

Run against anything that needs improvement? Be ambitious to offer your services! For example, if you came across a tasteless menu in a restaurant or old-fashioned and poorly functioning website, or low-quality animation in the advertisement - make a high-quality proposal and offer it to the company. In most cases, you will get a client right there and your remuneration!

10. What about the pricing?

You may set a price in different ways. Here are some tips:

  • Let the customer propose his price, sometimes you'll be left really surprised;
  • Pay attention to who your customer is. Private individuals and small companies usually are looking for a low price and good quality ratio. Bigger companies and corporations are interested in the best possible quality and are ready to pay better;
  • If you are a beginning freelancer, you may lack experience in project evaluation. In this case, do consult your friends or other freelancers working in the industry for a longer time. Also, you may contact other freelancers on behalf of the customer and request a project assessment.

11. Offer some guarantees both for yourself and your customer.

Both you and your customer shall feel secure, meaning a safe and secure system of settlements. A customer shall not risk the advance payment, and you should not waste your time and efforts. The thing is that there are plenty of cheaters on the web, ready to place an order, get it done and leave it unpaid. Or otherwise - some fraudsters pretend to be freelancers, take the payment, and disappear. It is important to minimize the risks to both you and your customers.

This is how you can do it:

  • Ask for advance payment as of 10-25% of the project value;
  • Do part of the work, and send it to your customer for approval;
  • Then ask your customer for another advance payment to amount up to 50% of the project cost;
  • Then complete the works and show them to a customer remotely (you may send part of the works, but leave some to yourself until you get the full payment);
  • The customer sees the result and pays the remaining amount;
  • Then you send the complete work to the customer.

12. Don't be afraid to say "NO"

Sometimes you may not "fall for" the project, customer, or communication style. Be brave and say No, so save your time and energy that you may direct to another interesting project.